Amateur Monger books place in St. James’s Place National Pro-Am Grand Final with Stonebridge pro Lansberry

Coventry-based builders' supplier Garry Monger put his nerves to one side as he reached the final of the St. James’s Place National Pro-Am Championship in Turkey.

Stonebridge Golf Club amateur Monger teamed up with the club’s PGA Professional Aaron Lansberry for the qualifying event at Sherwood Forest Golf Club in Nottinghamshire.

The pair edged out Matthew Cort and Kevin Marlow, from Beedles Lake Golf Club in Leicester, by two points.

Last year’s overall winner Craig Shave, of Whetstone Golf Club, was in third place with amateur partner Tony Wilks.

Monger and Lansberry will now line up in the final, which is being held on the PGA Sultan course at Antalya Golf Club, on November 29-30.

They finished strongly over the last six holes, including a nett eagle at the 14th, to give them a final total of 44 points.

“I was quite nervous at first, especially teeing off on the first hole where there were people watching, and I’d played the previous weekend and not done so well,” said 18-handicapper Monger, who has been playing golf for the past 15 years.

“I wanted a good start, but I was a bit wayward. By the turn though, we were starting to do well and although we completed the round well, we weren’t sure if we’d won or not.

“We knew we were eight under par on the day, but it was only when we were in the clubhouse later that it was confirmed that we’d done it.

“But we didn’t go into the event expecting that, I was just excited to be playing in the event alongside some experienced professionals.

“It was a lovely course at Sherwood Forest, and with the dry weather we’ve had, the greens were fast, it was tricky.”

But Monger, an assistant manager at a builders’ merchant, was pleased to be able to contribute to the round with some key shots.

“I purposely steered clear from asking about the scores and how we were doing,” he said.

“But apparently I played the last six holes with a nett six under par score. I had a real good run towards the end, and pretty much parred my way in and helped out. Aaron carried me through the front nine, but I improved after that.”

Now he and Aaron are looking forward to travelling out to Turkey.

“I had to phone the wife on the way home and tell her I was off to Turkey, and I was on a high by the time I got home,” said Monger.

“It’ll seem a bit more real the closer it gets, in the meantime, I can’t stop looking up  the course and hotel online.”

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